Rig lifting apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb, 28, 1955 INVENTOR EM/L A. @ENDE/2 ATTORNEY.:

Aug. 25, 1959 E. A. BENDER RIG LIFTING APPARATUS 4`sheets-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28. 1955 EM/L A, EENDE/ ATTORNEY.

Aug. 25, 1959 E. A. BENDER RIG LIF'TING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28, 1955 1N VENTOR EMIL A. RENDE/2 ATTORNEY.l

Aug. 25, 1959 E. A. BENDER RIG LIFTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28, 1955 NVENTOR EM/L A. BENDER ATTORNEYSl United States This invention relates to a device for lifting a portable oil well rig.

Formerly it was the custom to erect oil well derricks on the site from elements or sub-assemblies brought individually to the drilling site. In this respect the operation was similar to the time honored method of constructing houses from individual planks, beams and boards.

Just as the building of houses can be speeded up by the use of prefabricated elements, it is now the practice to speed up the erection of oil well derricks by the use of a smaller number of larger sized sub-assemblies. Ideally the whole `derrick should be movable from site to site in a single piece and, particularly in the smaller sizes, complete portable, unitary rigs are available for this purpose. However this is sometimes impractical because the derrick, when fully assembled, may be too large to be moved over public roads and it is rarely possible to move such a derrick across open fields. A reasonably satisfactory alternative involves the interconnection of a few sub-assemblies so that the assembly operation itself merely involves the matching of a small number of preselected parts so that they may be united into an operative whole. In some cases separate fastening means may be used to unite the parts while in other cases the parts are already united by movable joints of various types.

At the same time, the derricks must be adaptable to a lieXi-ble arrangement so that they may perform a variety of functions. Formerly, once a `derrick had been moved from the well site, it was impractical to reerect another derrick there because of the time and labor involved. However there has now grown up the need for a variety of services to be performed at the well site after the drilling operation has been completed and these needs have brought about the necessity for the `development of a portable derrick that can be brought to the site, quickly assembled so that the servicing may take place and quickly demounted for transfer to another Well site. Although these requirements may take up a good proportion of the time that a rig may be used, it ought still to be usable for the original purpose as well.

The majority of the deeper wells are drilled by the rotary method. This requires the use of apparatus on two separate levels. If the working platform is at ground level, then a sunken pit must be dug below the platform or in the alternative, the working platform must be elevated to permit ground level activity below the platform. Obviously because of the large amount of water used in the drilling operation, it is preferable to carry on all activities above ground level.

It is customary in the arrangement of portable rigs for the draw-works to be carried upon a semi-trailer. The draw-works consist of the hoisting apparatus and engine apparatus and engine employed for raising certain parts of the drilling apparatus to the upper portion of the derrick. According to the size of the rig, part or all of the rderrick itself may be carried upon the same trailer. At the site, the derrick is assembled in close juxtaposition arent l" 2,901,216 HC@ Patented Aug. 25, 1959 to the drilling platform with the draw-works as close thereto as possible.

It is generally customary for the Iboss driller to stand at the controls of the draw-works and from this position to supervise the work of his various helpers at the site. It is obvious therefore that he must stand where he has a clear View of the activities of each of his helpers since much personal `danger to the operatives is involved. The boss driller must so manipulate the controls of the apparatus that al1 of his assistants work in the maximum degree of safety while at the same time there is no needless `delay resulting lfrom his inability to see what is going on. However, for the purpose of maintaining stability of the apparatus during its transportation from point to point and in order to permit clearance of the loaded trailer below overhanging trees and trestles, it is necessary to build the semi-trailers so that the apparatus is carried at as low a level as is practical.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide apparatus for lifting a complete trailermounted drilling rig in horizontal position to the drilling platform of a previously prepared sub-base or to a higher working level thereby affording the driller `a clear view of the entire ldrilling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide lifting apparatus 'for a portable drilling rig which may be constructed as an entirely separate and self-contained assembly or, alternatively, may be bui-lt as an integral attachment for the rig trailer without increasing the overall height of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide rig lifting apparatus of the type described wherein the application of lifting force may be eifected in a variety of r ways.

The foregoing, as Well as other `and further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a `generally schematic, side elevation view illustrating one `form of the invention as applied to a typical portable drilling rig which has been moved into pos-ition adjacent a previously prepared sub-base;

Figure 2 is a side elevation View illustrating that form of the invention shown in Figure l, but to a somewhat larger scale, and with portions of the trailer shown in dash lines;

Figure 3 is 'a side elevation View of the structure of Figure 2 but illustrating the parts in the raised or operative position;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the structure of Figure 3 but with the trailer bed omitted and portions of the structure broken away to better illustrate the construction;

Figure 5 is a side elevation View similar to Figure 2 Vbut illustrating ia modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is a side elevation View similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan View similar to Figure 4 but illustrating the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevation View similarI to Figures 2 and 5 but illustrating a second modification of the invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevation view similar to Figures 3 and 6 but illustrating the modification of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a top plan View similar to Figures 4 and 7 but illustrating the modification of Figure 9;

Figure 1l is an end elevation View of the modification of Figures 8 to l0, taken from the right in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12712` in Figure 5,; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary detail view in; elevation, illustrating lone of4 the locking; devices common to all forms of the invention.

Referring now in. somewhat greater detail tothe. drawings,v and particularly to Figure l thereof, there is shown at 10 a conventional drilling platform .above well-head 12. In. preparation for the. erection .of the rig, there will be. laid a wood plank .base consistingl of longitudinal planks 14. and transverse planks- 16'. Itis obvious Athat in place of such. wood plank base anyl other suitable apparatus for distributing the weight ofthe load may be employed.

As shown in Figure l, the rig unit consisting of tractor 128 and semi-trailer 20 is backed up on the base to a predetermined point just short of the drillingy platform 1'0. In the embodiment illustrated', a derrick mast 22 and draw-'works 24 are shovm mounted on the semi-trailer Ztl together with other items of auxiliary equipment which may differ widely.

In the modification shown' in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the bed 26 of the trailer is provided with a pair of longitudinal I-beams 28. At the front and rear of these beams a pair of risers 30 are pivote'd and at the lower ends of each of the four risers are pivoted pads 32 formed of channelv iron. At the rear end of the pads are bolsters 34 supporting tackle brackets 38 which in turn are braced by braces 36 secured at their lower ends to the pads 32. When it is desired to move the trailer from place to place, the pads are swung up so that they and the risers are held substantially parallel to the underside of the 'bed of the trailer 2.6. They are hel'd. in this position "by any `suitable klatch means such as indicated at 37 in Figure 2.

As the trailer is backed' onto the base planking, just before it reaches the position illustrated in vFigure 3, the latches 37 `are released and the pads .lowered into contacty with the base planking. vThe trailer is continued in its backward movement until the bolsters 34 closely abut the, platform 10. ADuring this latter movement the pads are allowed to slide along the planking area.

Blocks 40l and 4'2,l respectively, are secured' to tackle bracket 38 and yoke 44, the latter being attached to the rear axle of the trailer. Lines 46 are passed' varound the blocks 40 and y42 yand out. vforwardly of the trailer. When itis 'desired to raise the'trailer from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, the lines 46 are drawn forward .exerting a rearward .and upward pull on the trailer causing the risers to assume a vertical posit-ion to support the trailer in raised position,

Each of the risers 30 is provided with a lug 48 and these lugs vhave `holes corresponding with other holes in lugs v50 carried` on I-beams 52 secured to the pad-s 32. When the trailer lhas been elevated in the air with the risers in upright position, pins 54 may be passed through the cooperating holes in lugs 48 and 50 to hold the trailer in elevated" position. As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the longitudinal support beams 28 may be held in spaced, parallel relationship by transverse beams 60 suitably secured thereto in any convenientv manner as by welding or the like, corresponding to the lower transverse -beams 52 extending between the pads 32'. It may also be desirable to further secure the trailer 20 to the .platform lll by suitable temporary fastening such as boltsl.

In the modilication shown in Figures 5, 6 and' 7, hydraulic cylinders 56 with pistons 58 extend between the forward I-beam 52 and the rearward cross-piece 6). When' it is desired to raise the Vtrailer into drilling position, `hydraulic pressure is'applied to the cylinders to drive the pistons outwardly thereby raising the trailer '4 20. When the trailer is properly elevated lugs 48 and 50 are pinned together as in the previous modication.

In the two previously disclosed embodiments of the invention, the trailer raising device is built into the trailer itself. As disclosed in Figures 8 to ll the device may be constructed separately. As shown in Figure 8, the apparatus, which may be separately transported, is placed upon the ground adjacent the sub-base 10 in collapsed condition and the trailer back on to channels 62 up ramps 64. The front portion of the trailer 20 is raised from the tractor by means of jacks 66. Although it forms no part of the present invention, it should be pointed out that it is desirable when the unit is operating in stationary position to transfer the weight of the vehicle directly from the frame thereof to the frame of the raising device by means of additional jacks at the rear thereby moving the weight of the vehicle from its tires.

ln this embodiment of Figures 8 to l'lf, the bolsters 34 are hinged at 6? for folding into compactposition. When it is desired to lift the trailer, the bolsters are raised into operative position and braces 3 6 are set in position. By means of blocks 40 andj 42 and lines,y 46, the risers are raised to vertical position and lugs 48 and 5t) are pinned in place.

Whenl apparatus of this character has been used in thel field for some time it may be somewhat difficult to disengage from operating position. In order to start it into collapsed position I provide back-ott boltsl 70v pass.- ing through the bolsters and bearingl against the ends of channels 62. By advancing thel bolts` through thel bolsters the weight of the trailer 20 is startediin-the.- lowering direction suciently so that the remainder ofthe operation can be carried on Without diflculty.k

It willy be obvious that numerous modifications cangbe made in the arrangement of the invention; without. departing from the spirit thereof and it is my desire; to. have .my invention limited only in accordance withttherscope. of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable oil drilling rig, a wheeled `vehicle-for transporting the draw works, a parallel-link system: suspended from and adapted to be foldedt closely vtof the underside of the vehicle including: a pair of' elongated support members for engagement withl the vehicle,.means for holding said members in generally parallel` relation; a pair of complemental ground contact members, elongated, extending in substantially parallel relation` to. said support members and having broad, weight-distributing areas for ground contact; means for holding the ground* contact members in parallel relation, four` link .members. pivotally connecting the support members and the ground contact members in two parallel-link system;.ap.ertured lugs on said link members, comple-mentally spaced apertured lugs mounted on the ground contact members, pins for fastening complemental pairsof lugs by' passage thereof through the complemental apertures of thezpairs of lugs whereby the linkage system may beheld: in rec.- tangular array, means for transposing the paralleli linkage into rectangular array and means for securingy a palrtzof the vehicle to a part of the structure of a drillingzplatform.

2. In a portable oil drilling rig, a wheeledrvehicle .for transporting the draw works, a paralleL-link system adapted to be folded closely to. the undersideof. the vehicle including: a pair of elongated support members for engagement with the Vehicle, means. for holding said members in generally parallel relation; apair of com'- plemental ground contact members, elongated, extending in substantially parallel relation to saidsupportmembers and having broad, weight-distributing. areas forl ground contact; means for holding the groundcontact members in parallel relation, four link members pivotally connecting the support members and the Yground contact members in two parallel-link systems; aperturedlugs on said link members adjacent the ground contactmembers; means for detachably holding the link system including support members, ground contact members and link members, in ground clearing, collapsed arrangement against the underside of the vehicle, additional apertured lugs mounted on the ground contact members in coordinate relation to said rst named lugs and pins for fastening complemental pairs of lugs by passage thereof through the complemental apertures of the pairs of lugs whereby the linkage system may be held in rectangular array.

3. In a portable oil drilling rig, a wheeled vehicle for transporting the draw works, a parallel-link system including: a pair of elongated support members for engagement with the vehicle, means for holding said members in generally parallel relation; a pair of complemental ground contact members, elongated, extending in substantially parallel relation to said support members and having broad, weight-distributing areas for ground contact; means for holding the ground contact members in parallel relation; link members pivotally connecting thesupport members and the ground contact members in two parallel-link systems; apertured lugs on said link members, complemental apertured lugs mounted on the ground contact members and pins for fastening complemental pair of lugs by passage thereof through the complemental apertures of the pairs of lugs whereby the linkage system may be held in rectangular array.

4. In a portable oil drilling rig, a wheeled vehicle for transporting the draw works, a parallel-link system including: a pair of elongated support members for engagement with the vehicle, means for holding said members in generally parallel relation; a pair of complemental ground contact members, elongated, extending in substantially parallel relation to said support members and having broad, weight-distributing areas for ground contact; means for holding the ground contact members in parallel relation; link members pivotally connecting the support members and the ground contact members in two parallel-link systems; means for detachably holding the link system including support members, ground contact members and link members in ground clearing, collapsed arrangement against the underside of the vehicle, apertured lugs on said link members, complemental apertured lugs mounted on the ground contact members, and pins for fastening complemental pairs of lugs by passage thereof through the complemental apertures of the pairs of lugs whereby the linkage system may be held in rectangular array.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 602,259 .Tandro Apr. 12, 1898 1,170,757 Kenyon Feb. 8, 1916 1,653,813 Meyers Dec. 27, 1927 1,942,945 Smith Jan. 9, 1934 2,689,137 Iddings et al Sept. 14, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 562,226 Germany Oct. 22, 1932 

